Gilbert Arenas. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Gilbert Arenas rips four-time Warriors champion: 'Never improved'

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 12/10/23

Klay Thompson has won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors. The veteran sharpshooter is widely seen as one of the best perimeter threats in NBA history. During his prime, he was also an exceptional defensive talent.

However, Gilbert Arenas doesn't believe we've seen much growth in Thompson's game. His comments came on a recent episode of the "Gil's Arena" podcast, where he was discussing player development.

"Klay Thompson, he never improved to me," Arenas said. "He came in as a spot shooter, and even though you have four championships, you're still a spot shooter. Versus someone who's like, 'Ok, they might need me to do something else, and I might need to have that skill set.'"

Gilbert Arenas says Klay Thompson never improved his game

“Someone like Klay, he never improved to me. You came in as a spot shooter, and even though you have 4 rings, you’re still a spot shooter”

(h/t @funakistats / via @GilsArenaShow )

pic.twitter.com/HAG1TYisWK
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2023

Thompson is more than a spot-up shooter. According to Cleaning The Glass (which has a garbage time filter,) he has taken 1,795 shots around the rim, converting 1,162 of them. That type of production inside the restricted area is not expected from a spot-up shooter. Furthermore, Thompson's defense also makes him more than a single-skill shooter.

It's easy to look at how the Warriors play and Thompson's role as a catch-and-shoot threat within the offense and assume that's all he brings to the table. However, that has never been the case. Thompson is a versatile scorer who has gravity across all three levels. He's a talented small screener and can be trusted to execute multiple plays within the offense.

Thompson has struggled throughout the first quarter of the current season. Those struggles are making him an easy target for critics who have been waiting for cracks to appear within the Warriors roster. However, stating that Thompson is nothing more than a spot-up shooter is factually incorrect. He excels in that role, but it's not the only role he can play, as he's proven on countless occasions throughout his 11-year tenure in the league.

More must-reads: